White Pigeon firefighters receive Heroes Award Award, MI SAFE
21
May 2018

 

White Pigeon firefighters

White Pigeon firefighters (left) and Michigan State Firemen’s Association Executive Board (red jackets)

LAPEER, Mich. – Saturday May 19th, four members from the White Pigeon Fire Department in St. Joseph County were presented the 2018 Heroes Award by the Michigan State Firemen’s Association at the 143rd Annual Conference dinner and banquet in Lapeer.

Fire Chief Troy Andrews (with 19 years of service), Lieutenant Jeff Wagaman (with 14 years of service), Firefighter Thomas Law (with 14 years of service), and Fire Cadet Merlin Zehr (with 1 year of service) were recognized for their heroic efforts from a rescue which occurred on January 27, 2018, when a 54-year old man fell through thin ice while fishing.  Upon arrival, White Pigeon firefighters noticed the fisherman was in frigid water holding on to the edge of the ice shelf.

White Pigeon firefighters worked together as a team following the Incident Command System and utilizing their frequent training to execute this rescue.  Chief Andrews donned the department’s ice and cold water rescue suit, climbed into the water and rescued the hypothermic fisherman.

“These men have it in their heart to serve their community,” said Assistant Chief Tyler Royce, who nominated his brother firefighters for the Heroes Award.  “They dedicate countless hours of their own time preparing our department to respond to and mitigate the next emergency,” said Royce.

White Pigeon Fire is a WOTV 4 Women Operation Save A Life department.  Firefighters  provide free smoke alarms and community risk reduction messaging to residents in need.

Fire safety advocate receives top honors Award, Safety,
28
Mar 2018

20180327_184656

On March 27th, 2018 Lt. Michael McLeieer from the Olivet Fire Department in Eaton County, President and Founder of the non-profit public charity E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. and the only member from the fire service, received the 2018 Professional Excellence Award from The 100 Club of Greater Lansing at their annual meeting held at the Royal Scot banquet facility in Lansing.

29573091_10213158870984618_7128749758737148109_n

This award is in recognition of leading a team of public safety professionals and other community advocates who collectively identify leading risks causing home fires, reducing fire fatalites and eliminating risky behavor which often results in injury or death. Over the past 4 years, West Michigan has seen a 62% reduction in home fire deaths across a 14-county region thanks to the great work by our firefighters, police officers, American Red Cross Disaster Responders, businesses and other community advocates.

20180327_181824

McLeieer is the 1st Vice President of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association and is the Fire and Life Safety Program Coordinator for WOTV 4 Women and WLNS 6 News Safety For You providing free smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and fire safety information to West Michigan fire departments in order to educate families on ways to stay safe.

 

Saugatuck Township Fire Chief receives Public Educator of the Year award Award, Operation Save A Life, , ,
15
Sep 2016

 

 

20160915_203425

Fire Chief Greg Janik of the Saugatuck Township Fire District in Allegan County was the recipient of the Public Fire Educator of the Year award from the Michigan Fire Inspectors Society (MFIS) at a dinner banquet held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing on Thursday September 15, 2016.

Chief Janik was selected to receive the Public Fire Educator of the Year award from a list of statewide candidates because of his leadership and commitment to delivering year-round public education programming in the Saugatuck Public School system and to the citizens throughout the Saugatuck community.

Saugatuck Fire Chief Greg Janik receives Public Fire Educator of the Year Award

Saugatuck Fire Chief Greg Janik receives Public Fire Educator of the Year Award

Janik joined the Saugatuck Township Fire District on November 20, 2001 as a paid on call firefighter. In 2004, he was hired as a full time fire inspector, firefighter and medical first responder with the department.  That same year, he quickly realized the importance and benefits of delivering age-appropriate fire prevention and education programming to school aged students throughout the community.  He began the public education program that same year in the community’s school system with the goal of having school-aged youth be the fire inspectors in their home and teach family members about fire safety.

On May 17, 2013, Janik was hired as the Chief of the Saugatuck Township Fire District. That same year, the Chief conducted a community risk assessment to identify and prioritize hazards which impacted the community.  It was determined that residents would not only benefit from fire safety education, but also from having smoke alarms installed in homes where they were needed, free of charge.

In 2014, Chief Janik and the Saugatuck Township Fire District were one of the first to join the WOTV Operation Save A Life  program.  Operation Save A Life provides free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to fire departments as well as fire safety information to residents throughout West Michigan.  Alarms are installed in homes by firefighters or the American Red Cross at no cost to residents.  For more information on Operation Save A Life or to schedule your free alarm installation, email [email protected] or call toll free 1-844-978-4400.

E.S.C.A.P.E. would like to congratulate Chief Janik for receiving this prestigious award and thank him for his continued commitment to Making West Michigan S.A.F.E.

 

Fire safety advocate honored 8West, Award, Operation Save A Life, Safety, ,
08
Apr 2016

For 20 years now, Michael McLeieer of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. has been teaching children and adults about fire prevention. Now his work and dedication has earned him a national award, the 2016 Fire Prevention and Education Award.

The award, sponsored by Nest, was established in memory of volunteer firefighter and NVFC board member Marc Mueller. Each year, it honors a person who has made a major contribution in the field of fire prevention.

McLeieer founded E.S.C.A.P.E. more than 20 years ago to teach children and adults about fire prevention, CPR, and first aid. He is a regular at Maranda Park Parties every summer, spreading his message of fire safety to more than a million children in West Michigan.

Lt. McLeieer will be recognized at a banquet on May 6, 2016, in Alexandria, Virginia. To read more about his accomplishments and the award, click here.

 

Michael McLeieer receives Fire Prevention and Education Award Award, Maranda, Safety, , , ,
08
Apr 2016

marandamichaelJake12-1-2015

Michael McLeieer, Jake the Fire Safety Dog, and Maranda in the WOTV 4 studio

Michael McLeieer of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. is the proud recipient of the 2016 Fire Prevention and Education Award.

The award, sponsored by Nest, was established in memory of volunteer firefighter and NVFC board member Marc Mueller. Each year, it honors a person who has made a major contribution in the field of fire prevention.

McLeieer founded E.S.C.A.P.E. more than 20 years ago to teach children and adults about fire prevention, CPR, and first aid. He is a regular at Maranda Park Parties every summer, spreading his message of fire safety to more than a million children in West Michigan.

Lt. McLeieer will be recognized at a banquet on May 6, 2016, in Alexandria, Virginia. To read more about his accomplishments and the award, click here.